Things are heating up around these parts! The unbearably hot and humid end of August means that work’s a week away. However, before I buckle under the oppressive temps of routine and responsibility, I’ve got to give this week’s I&N Demand books their requisite once over. So, here we go:

The New World #2 (Image): I&N Demand The New World is built upon a familiar foundation–it’s “a whole new world,” with “a new fantastic point of view”–with Aleš Kot’s singular perspective, itself an eclectic amalgam of vibrant and vital voices from across ages, genres and mediums. He’s the real deal; and I, for one, am, as always, excited to have the opportunity to turn the pages of his inimitable imagination–in this case, as brought to the page by Tradd and Heather Moore. The former’s lines are truly miracles of the medium: they flow and flow and flow, creating a sense of motion, which pushes the narrative pace; the latter’s colors complement perfectly the lines, adding significant depth to Tradd’s artwork and creating a new world worthy of exploration on each page, in each panel. Very much looking forward to learning how Kot’s kick-ass Stella–a Juliet by another name–deals with the way-chill Kirby, her “only love sprung by her only” having to hunt him the fuck down. Reality star-crossed lovers, indeed!

Scarlet #1 (DC)

Web of Venom: Ve’Nam #1 (Marvel)

Bone Parish #2 (BOOM!): I&N Demand Finally: the follow-up to the #1 hit from Bone Drugs-N-Harmony! (Hmm. Sounded better in my head. I mean, I 22 I&N 22-ed the thing to death and was waiting to drop this one-liner and– Know what? I blame those guys. Bunn and Scharf and Guimarães. Fuckers. Coming together to create this…this…addictive nightmare! Been fiending for this for, what, like a month. Feels like forever. Twisting. Haven’t been right in the head since. Turning. Gotta get to my dealer. Gotta go. Gotta get there. But. But what if he’s out? Fuck. What if he runs out? Goddamn it. I gotta run. I gotta

Hillbilly: Red-Eyed Witchery from Beyond #1 (Albatross): I&N Demand I loved Hillbilly #12! Loved. It. The final episode in Rondel’s epic journey was huge in scope, but Eric Powell crafted it in such a perfectly compact manner–delivering Hurrah!-worthy Homerian moments (“the last of [his] kind,” indeed!) and taking a wrench to Rondel’s heart–and to mine!–and twisting oh-so-cruelly. As much as it hurt in the end, we–Rondel and I–have got to cleave that all behind and move on–to more haggish mayhem!

A Walk Through Hell #4 (AfterShock): I&N Demand Garth Ennis is building something truly frightening here–and–in #3, in particular–he’s doing so through dialogue–the masterfully-crafted dialogue for which he is known. Few comic book writers can keep the tension up while ratcheting up the word count; but Ennis does it effortlessly. Goran Sudzuka’s subdued art–with taciturn gray and brown tones from colorist Ive Svorcina–allows the aforementioned tension to build; and by laying out every page differently, Sudzuka subtly emphasizes the complex nature of the plot as it continues to develop. I’m very much looking forward to getting to the bottom of this mystery–though I don’t mind the walk one bit–and can’t wait to get wrapped up in more of Ennis’s demonically-deliberate diealogue.

My wife and I have gone to a few concerts over the past few months, including Vertical Horizon/Tonic/Gin Blossoms, the always brilliant Richard Thompson (with G. E. Smith), and The Pixies & Weezer. If you’re reading this on Wednesday: tonight, we’re headed out to see Counting Crows & Live (honesty: looking forward to the latter); and on Labor Day weekend–right before I return to work (a sorta cross between a fist pump and a “foiled again”)–we’ve got Judas Priest & Deep Purple (it’s all about the former for me!). And, (big secret: don’t tell) for our anniversary, I’ve scored another go-round with Richard Thompson in November! (Quick math: that’ll be our eighth time with RT! Yeah: we’re fans.) Before we head out to the Live show (see what I did there: shooed away the Crows), hoping against the forecast that lightning, in fact, doesn’t crash, I’ve got to go pick up my comics. Here’s the big list:

Cold Spots #1 (Image): I&N Demand Goddamned Bone Parish was dead-ass intoxicating. Now, even before that hellishly hot piece of horror’s been bagged and boarded, here’s Cold Spots, which will, if history counts for anything, set the shelves alight. See: when it comes to horror comics, Cullen Bunn’s kinda cornered the graveyard, hasn’t he? Fuck yeah, he has. So this one’s a no-brainer. And a no-body-er. You know, cuz of the ghosts.

Days of Hate #7 (Image): I&N Demand Remembering #6: Man, when Aleš Kot gets all poetic and shit, he emerges all politic and shit, and the world spins a bit differently–it slows down to let the images take shape and, as they do, they reshape us. Kot reshapes us. He -isms all over us. The son of a bitch owns us from front to back–even if our politics are polar enemies. Yes: he’s that good–he’s more, wielding like a poet Danijel Žeželj’s beautifully brooding artwork (those blacks, tho) and Jordie Bellaire’s typically bold palette; and the layouts–the fucking layouts, like visual meth, moving, moving apace–particularly the oh-so-familiar nine-panel pages that are manipulated to such a colorful end, and, wouldn’t you know, encourage us willing voyeurs, cleverly, to watch women as Kot develops at once several crucial relationships (including the one between him and us), and does so organically, oh-so poetically. Yeah, there’s so much to love about Days of Hate–because there’s so much love in Days of Hate.

Die! Die! Die! #2 (Image)

Redneck #14 (Image): I&N Demand Redneck, Redneck, oh, how I offered my throat– twelve times, true!–only to be left wanting, even on the odd but teased to plump carotids; however, it took till thirteen, didn’t it, to break the skin–for Redneck to claim me as its very own, with a neck as red as a good ol’ vampire’s wet dream. (I just slid said chapter from its bag, to revisit, and, damn, got a rush–memories of the first time rhythmically kicking my carotids–boom, boom, boom…) I loved that issue so much, that I celebrated it with a 22 I&N 22. (Love how that one turned out!) What I’m trying to say, if it isn’t clear, is that I’m very much looking forward to fourteen–and am hoping that Cates, Estherren, and Cunniffe kill it–and me–again.

Royal City #14 (Image)

Black Hammer: Age of Doom #4 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand Jeff Lemire is on fire (pronounced fi-ear, obviously)–again; and this particular inferno–spread to other books I&N Store this week–has at its source the Eisner-award winning accelerant that is Black Hammer, now four issues into the Age of Doom, which has been just as beautiful (thanks to the passively moody pairing of Dean Ormston and Dave Stewart) and engaging–thanks to the gloriously nostalgic nods (many in the knowingly-named “Land of Nod,” for God’s sake!) to which I–like you, I’m sure–look forward. #3 was a terrific trip with some subplots taking odd turns, throwing characters off, throwing us readers off–and Lemire puts words–“Wait. What?” or for the saltier of us an incredulous “What the fuck just happened […]?”–in the mouths of those bound to the pages and of those who hover just above them. In the end, a weird “Uh oh” pretty well sets the stage for all hell to break Lucy–or for Lucy to take her fucking hammer and smash it all to embers. Now, that’s hot.

Action Comics #1002 (DC)

The Amazing Spider-Man #4 (Marvel): I&N Demand I can’t believe I typed it. TheAmazing Effing Spider-Man–I&N Demand. I can’t believe I typed it again! What can I say: it took til #3, but see: Nick Spencer’s caught me in his web of radioactively witty dialogue, which reminded me of being happily trapped by Ant-Man and The Astonishing Ant-Man; and Ryan Ottley’s style is well-spun fun that pops perfectly–thanks to Cliff Rathburn’s sharp inks and Laura Martin’s crisp colors. I’m sure I’m not a clone in this: I’m buying Spencer’s Split Spider angle–I sense a comPeteition coming on!–and the poisonous potential of mixing power and irresponsibility. Come on: that is pretty amazing–and, doubtless, deserves the coveted I&N Demand designation.

First, I’d like to share an important update: I’m all caught up! That’s right, I&Nmates: I’ve read everything–Every. Flippin’. Floppy. in my possession–including the procrastinative Calexit, issues #2 and #3, which were, in the end, not surprisingly, all right left.

Wow. I’ve killed the pile, and it feels good. You know what I’m talking about: nothing burdens a comic book nerd quite like being behind a week or a month with his or her reading.

With that load taken off of my desk–a white IKEA secretary for you I&N completists–I’m re-energized and ready to let ‘er rip–so here’s what’s I&N Store this week:

The New World #1 (Image): I&N Demand A few years ago, when we were still writing the good write, we celebrated Ales Kot as the writer of the moment: his voice was potent; it was poetry. He had us hearing things and experiencing things and thinking things in ways that were unexpected. Compared to the other solid books that populated the shelf and, ultimately, our bags, his books, particularly Zero, were just more. Speaking of more: one of the reasons I decided to return to writing about what I love is Kot’s own Days ofHate–specifically #5, the near-silent, explosively tri-ing narrative, presented perfectly by Danijel Zezelj and Jordie Bellaire–which has, through six issues, conducted in me the synaptic symphony to which I became addicted when I was deep into Zero–or, more so, when Zero was deep into me. Deeper still: as a self-proclaimed Always Kot-er, I will gleefully grab the 72-page initial offering of TheNew World–with art from the Lord of Lines, Tradd Moore–because when it comes to Kot, more is more and, damn, I’m ready to read, ready to explore.

Redneck #13 (Image)

Royal City #13 (Image)

Saga #54 (Image)

Action Comics #1001 (DC)

Doomsday Clock #6 (DC)

Amazing Spider-Man #2 (Marvel)

Bone Parish #1 (BOOM!): I&N Demand Cullen Bunn kicked my ass with his hell-raising run on Harrow County, issue for issue, the best regular monthly horror book of the last few years. After having said goodbye to Emmy and having left Harrow in good hands, Bunn’s back with Bone Parish, a drug-laced horror book that, interestingly enough, in a kind of ThePrestige vs. The Illusionist-style turf battle, seems to live in the same cemetery as Black Mask’s addictive Gravetrancers, which just so happens to be out this week, too! Now, that book is bonkers–story-wise and art-wise; and, in that, it’s a good time, man–yeah, it’s an effing trip. I’m pretty sure, however, that Bunn’s book–with art from Jonas Scharf–is going to be a bit tighter. Take the underappreciated Unsound, for example: Bunn got gleefully unhinged during that paper plate masquerade, yet the story still felt grounded–even when the ground was the ceiling! So, will I be comparing Bone Parish to Gravetrancers? Of course. Anyone who’s read the latter has an obligation to test the former–to see if it transcends its predecessor or if it falls flat. Hey: my bag ain’t no vacuum, after all: it’s some prime–and responsibly recycled–real estate; and these two death-drug lords, Bunn and Miller, will be throwing down–if only for this one day–to claim the turf. We’ll soon see who’s got the write stuff white stuff the goods and who’s got the betters.

Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #1 (Valiant)

Crossed+One Hundred: Mimic #4 (Avatar)

Gravetrancers #4 (Black Mask)

Hillbilly #12 (Albatross): I&N Demand It’s all led to this–every step, every story, every swing of Rondel’s cleaver: witches–lots and lots of witches–vs. the Iron Child and his newly-raised army. Eric Powell has taken us on quite a journey; with each issue and one into the next, he’s crafted an epic for the ages. I’ll be sad when it’s over, that’s for damn sure; but it ain’t over until the Hillbilly swings–one last time.

A Walk Through Hell #3 (Aftershock): I&N Demand During the terrifying stretch of road that was #2, Garth Ennis and Goran Sudzuka unloaded with the increasingly uncomfortable self-inflicted Passion of Huzikker, the suicidal centerpiece of a crazy spent-shell game of an issue. The never-ending barrage of bullets had me emotionally ducking for cover, had me silently begging for the poor guy to die–not unlike the response George Orwell demands with his revolutionary short piece “Shooting an Elephant.” (Why won’t the effing thing die already!) Another selling point, of course, is Ennis’s living anew in law enforcement. (This reads not unlike Red Team with a twist of dread–which would make this, wait for it, Dread Team.) No one cops cop speak like Ennis; yes, as always, his dialogue is to die for. And speaking of dying: I’m in no rush–and neither is Ennis, clearly; it is “a walk through hell,” after all. The terror he’s harnessed is born of the waiting and the wonder; so, yeah, let’s walk.

X-O Manowar #17 (Valiant)

Yay! A new pile! You know what I’m talking about: nothing excites a comic book nerd quite like having a new pile of comics on his or her desk.

Scarlet Witch #9 (Marvel): I&N Demand I’m happy to report that James Robinson’s tucked his junk away for his intriguing turn on Scarlet Witch. This book’s been monthly magic! OK, so we celebrated Robinson’s The Shade (DC)–feels like forever ago–and celehated just about everything else since then save for his full-of-hot Airboy, which was a balls-out blast to the past that sold me on Robinson’s page-bound prickish self, particularly as he hit some notes that recalled David Duchovny’s cock(un)sure Hank Moody in the hilariously depressing Californication. What a Wanda-full world he’s created here–with the help a different artist for each effort in order to create an interconnected series of singular experiences, which reminds of Ales Kot’s groundbreaking-and-then-standing-over-the-broken-pieces-and-gloating Zero (Image). Issue #8 found artist Tula Lotay delivering an appropriately hypnotic performance–one that helped to sell the all-important intimacy and to deliver the Ringmasterful twist. This month: Joëlle Jones assumes art duties. Something tells me the lady’s gonna kill it.

The Vision #10 (Marvel): I&N Demand Later, this very reader, on this very blog, would write a review of The Vision and its creators that no one has written before–and it’d go viral, leaving dancing grooms and blustery moguls dancing and blustering in the datadust. A blurb would be bounced about the Twitterverse enough to convince some eager editor to snatch it and put it in print somewhere Marvelous. Then and only then would the world come to realize how integral Tom King’s vision and his voice have been to the evolution of the medium during this Vibranium Age for comics. For now: on the strength of #9, and King and Walta’s playing us like a Wakandian piano, before diving into #10, don’t forget your flak jacket, your helmet, and, for obvious reasons, your safety glasses. This could get ugly very quickly.

Black Eyed Kids #5 (Aftershock)

Cirque American: Girl Over Paris #2 (Jet City Comics)

Johnny Red #8 (Titan)

Providence #10 (Avatar): I&N Demand Word wizard Alan Moore’s painstakingly finger-banging my brain. I offer it up to him again. There’s nothing like it on the shelf. There can’t be anything like it on the shelf.

Four days in the hot-spot money pit that is Montauk have me hoping I’m not going to miss some of this week’s big books. With apologies to Van Halen:

Ain’t Montaukin’ ’bout love

Vacay will keep me from the store

Ain’t Montaukin’ ’bout love

Cash-only shopping–I’m poor, yeah, I’m poor!

Doesn’t mean I won’t get out to Android’s to pick up these books, some semi-good lookin’ and some–mostly from the increasingly impressive Avatar Press–downright I&N Demand.

Harrow County #4 (Dark Horse)

Rebels #5 (Dark Horse)

String Divers #1 (IDW)

The Beauty #1 (Image)

The Fade Out #8 (Image)

Injection #4 (Image)

Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl #1 (Image): Just I&N and I&N Demand The team of Gillen, McKelvie, and Wilson–I think they’re OK. (OK: more than OK, really. OK?) If you don’t give them proper credit, you better just walk away–or I’ll slap you upside the head with a copy–I’ll make you pick your own copy, too; there’s a switch!–of The Wicked + The Divine to set your damn head straight. Oh, baby: I’m mad–on a roll, right? And to think: I missed the original Phonogram series; so I’m coming to this kinda like a virgin, no?

Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl #1

Starve #3 (Image): I&N Demand Through two: Starve is full of bold, assertive notes–it’s a massive success! When Gavin–Starve‘s Top Chef–tells Sheldon, “I’m going to show you my city,” I hear Brian Wood himself, who’s so very good at cooking up deliciously diverse worlds with depth of flavor; and his art team of Danijel Zezelj and Dave Stewart (a 2015 Innie nominee for Best Colorist) are the perfect sous chefs, plating–er, paneling–with brash black lines and shadows amplified by alternating–and often blended for a striking contrast–warm and cool tones. Hungry for more? I sure am!

Starve #3

Velvet #11 (Image)

18 Days #2 (Graphic India)

Americatown #1 (BOOM!)

Bloodshot: Reborn #5 (Valiant)

Crossed +100 #7 (Avatar) I&N Demand Alan Moore’s set the stage for Si Spurrier with a sick six issue arc that relied on obsessively intricate world building and long-fuse storytelling; but, damn, did it explode in the end. What an effing payoff! Man, Moore didn’t have to cross the Crossed line to be affective–he just went and redrew the brown out of it. Now, Spurrier’s no stranger to Crossed. In this case, however, he’s working off of Moore’s notes, which puts him in an odd position: he’s sort of a filter, right? One that might miss the mark tone-wise; hell, he might languish a bit with the oft-awkward language Moore’s crafted. It’s a risky proposition, for sure. Spurrier–the winner of the 2014 Innie Award for Best Writer–is pretty damn great, but he’s not Moore. Here’s hoping that he’s not much less, either.

Crossed +100 #7

Death Sentence: London #3 (Titan)

Mercury Heat #2 (Avatar)

Providence #3 (Avatar): I&N Demand Patient, potent: Providence is only two issues in, but Moore’s in deep–basement deep–and we’re right there with him. His commitment to the book is palpable, and he demands one from us; he demands our full attention–and Cthulhu knows he’s going to take advantage of it!

Providence #3

Über #27 (Avatar): I&N Demand Kieron Gillen’s delivered some strong issues along the way, but none as powerful as #26. Leah’s deployment was “everything [I] could have hoped for”–and more. Sure, the German Battleships may have gotten the best of the Brits in this, “the largest enhanced confrontation on the Western Front,” but I was emotionally destroyed by the relationship between HMHs Churchill and Dunkirk. Goddammit, Gillen’s killin’ it!

Archie vs. Predator #1 (Dark Horse) Just I&N OK, so, like, well, everyone else, I pretty much discovered the Archie-verse with Afterlife and regretted not having visited Riverdale more often after reading–along with everyone else–Life With Archie #36. (Heck of a time to jump on board, eh?) Despite my last-second, Scotty-come-lately Archievement, I was pretty settled on passing on this one. I mean, it sounds silly–sure, like Afterlife didn’t–and I didn’t know from Alex De Campi–until I read No Mercy (Image), which was really, really good. So, yeah, I’ve gone from I don’t care to Just I&N–just like that!

Millennium #4 (IDW): It’s not just Jordan, folks: it’s adult Jordan! That move’s a slam dunk in my book! After three issues, there’s no doubt: this is for hardcore Millennium fans only. Good thing I make a point of watching all three seasons on DVD every summer. Heh. Who knew that old practice would come in handy some day? Oh, but it has: it’s kept me so very ready for the further adventures of Frank Black.

The Fade Out #5 (Image): Honesty: I remember liking #4, but I can’t remember what the hell happened. Rrrrrrrrrrrr <—-That’s my avoiding using an obvious pun.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #3 (Image) I&N Demand #1 was our #3 book of February. #2 didn’t quite reach that level, but it still scratched that itch.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #3

Magneto #17 (Marvel): Erik’s past has come back to haunt him. No, not that past. Not that one, either. It’s his past-past, his waaaay past–his WWII past: a Nazi tormentor has come to Genosha; he’s murdering mutants and promising to murder more. There’s no way Erik can abide that. Something tells me revenge is in the offing–after he cleans off his bathroom mirror with some disinfectant spray, of course.

Uncanny X-Men #33 (Marvel): The X-Verse has been falling apart for some time now. Took me long enough, but I’ve finally given up on All-New. I should’ve given up on this one, too. So, so terrible. #31 had Cyclops berated by some nobody student in a moment that felt as unauthentic as Harper Row’s inexplicably lighting into Batman back in Batman #whocares; #32 saw him knocked out by Gold Balls. No, really: he was hit in the head with Gold Balls’ gold balls. This one looks like it’s going to be another patented X-filler issue. It’s Unnecessary X-Men #33! Yeah, I think it’s time.

Bloodshot: Reborn #1 (Valiant): I’m off Descender and All-New Hawkeye after trying two of each. Believe me: I want to love something that Jeff Lemire’s writing; I really do. That’s why I keep trying. And here I am, trying again.

Crossed +100 #4 (Avatar) I&N Demand Alan Moore’s brought a touch of Burgess to his narration and dialogue, making his take on Ennis’s mad, mad, mad, mad world read like A Crossedwork Red. No joke: #3 was not an easy read; but there’s still something terribly compelling about it, mainly because Moore’s clearly building–and patiently so–toward something–something big, maybe something not so big at all, who knows? Maybe he’s forging headlong into the heart of darkness, which he’s done before, and which would mean we’re in for a Conradian adventure–one that’s an exercise in superhuman patience. Because, let’s be honest, we all know that anything worth having is worth the work–and the wait. That’s what I skull, anyway.

Giant Days #2 (BOOM!) I&N Demand I had no idea what to expect from Giant Days. Maybe that’s why I ended up loving it as much as I did. Could also be because it’s just that good. Damn thing’s hilarious. Keep an eye out: I’m going to fight to include #1 in our Top 5 for March.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #2 (Archie) I&N Demand Man, I’ve been waiting for this.#1 was one of my favorite single issues of 2014. It was so good–so much better than that other, over-hyped wytch-themed book that overshadowed it; you know, the one that cast a spell with its creators’ names but ended up delivering a real wooden piece of “CHHIT.” No, Sabrina does everything right: it’s a masterclass in storytelling–in juxtaposition, in pacing, and most important, in horror–from Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa–the genius behind Afterlife With Archie–and the panel-perfect Robert Hack. What a mind-eff, no? Seems the comic book home of true terror is Archie Horror!

The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust #3 (Oni): Yay! I get to add another issue to my Sixth Gun pile.

Avery’s Pick of the Week

My Little Pony: Fiendship Is Magic #3 (IDW): Avery’s Grammy saw #2, read the title through Fiendship, and stopped short with an “Oh.” I assured her that it’s a series about some of the Pony villains. Turns out that my definition of assured isn’t the same as hers.

Last week had me Wow-ing more per book than any week in the recent past. Here’s the near future:

Mister X: Razed #2 (Dark Horse) I&N Demand No surprise here: we loved #1. It easily fell into our Top 5 Books of February, the result of the tasty termites and the hungry peregrine pigeons, which, of course, is Christmas come a bit late, you know, in the perfectly-wrapped gift of Dean Motter’s icicle-sharp storytelling. (Deep breath.) It’s everything we loved about Mr. X: Eviction, which was just as easily our #1 Book of 2013. Don’t remember why? Remind yourself.

Mister X: Razed #2

PastAways #1 (Dark Horse) Just I&N With his nonpareil Mind MGMT in its stretch run, main man Matt Kindt takes aim–along with artist Scott Kolins–at a fresh future with PastAways, the latest–and most assuredly not the last–entry in the suddenly supersaturated–and not-so-fresh–time-traveling-team market. Yeah, but it doesn’t matter if it’s good, right?

PastAways #1

The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1 (DC): Re: Mastermen: Morrison and Lee bowled me over with their opening “splash” page–light a match, Adolph! I mean, c’mon: Hitler on the can, reading Superman? Hey, why Nazi? They played it for a laugh–and got it!–and forged a connection between the Führer and me. I was like, that’s what I look like when I’m reading during “Daddy Time,” you know, just without the mustache and the swastika. Yeah, otherwise, pretty spot on. After that, the rest of the book played out well–despite Lee’s pin-up-per-panel approach, which robs the story–artistically, anyway–of any momentum. Not the best single Multiversity issue, but still plenty metafun. This month, Morrison and Mahnke promise to make me “an integral part of the resistance.” Can’t resist that!

The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw #5 (Image) I&N Demand Pretty great all around. Sure, while Busiek’s been busy building this remarkably engaging world, Astro City‘s suffered a bit. (The Quarrel arc is arguably the weakest multi-issue story since our return to the City.) But that’s all right–especially now that the game is a(Good)foot.

The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw #5

They’re Not Like Us #4 (Image): They may not be like them, but concerns are rising: we’re three issues in and some of what’s going on is a lot like some of what’s already gone on. Still love the design, though; love getting right to it! And still hanging on the promise made at the end of #1.

Daredevil #14 (Marvel): Ooh, ooh! A Shroud of secrecy! Yeah, that pretty much made it all worth it. As Waid and Samnee are making their way to the end of their run, I can’t help but think about Matt’s exes and wonder: what’s gonna happen to Kirsten? I’m leaning toward this one breaking the mold.

Uncanny X-Men #32 (Marvel): Eva’s conversation with Scott left me feeling like I did after Snyder’s Harper Row lit into Batman (in the regrettable Batman #18). That’s not a good thing. Oh, and so, as it all works out, it’s like nothing ever happened, which is always gratifying. Love that. Oh, oh, and maybe the once and future leader of the X-Men isn’t so far from his grand return. Ugh! I hate all the secrets and the wars that rage as a result of them!

The Black Hood #2 (Archie): I was surprised by how much I liked the first one. What sold it: the last page. As cheesy as it was, it felt authentic, heroic. I needed that. Great stuff from Gaydos.

The Bunker #10 (Oni): I’m feeling somewhat disconnected from The Bunker at this point. If it were released on a more regular basis…

Hit: 1957 #1 (BOOM!): I was surprised that Hit earned a Harvey nomination because it wasn’t great. Sure, it hit the right notes at the start–and at its soul was something to celebrate; but it didn’t come together well, as evidenced by the unremarkable end. I’ll thumb through to see if Del Rey’s art is enough of a draw to warrant a try. Otherwise, I’m going to pass.

Mono #4 (Titan): Through three now, I’m kinda feeling like I did after the summer after I graduated from high school–you know, after saying hi and goodbye to four different girls before leaving for college, and after learning that I had a case of mono, one bad enough to keep me home for what would’ve been my first semester at Penn State. Just like that, actually.

Quantum and Woody Must Die #3 (Valiant): Funny, funny, funny!

The Sixth Gun #47 (Oni): The stack grows.

The Valiant #4 (Valiant): #3 didn’t hit me like #2 did. Resulted in a bit of a letdown, especially as the entirety of the Valiant Universe gets further mired in Lemire’s return to Rotworld.

The Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance #3 (Dynamite): The first two-issue arc didn’t live up to Straczynski’s standard–but how could it? I’m probably going to pass.

We Can Never Go Home #1 (Black Mask): I haven’t like much of what I’ve tried from Black Mask. This one sounds interesting enough. I’ll thumb through to be fair.

Avery’s Picks of the Week

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #29 (IDW): My wife just came home from Stop & Shop with eight more Pony blind bags. Thanks a lot DCTC! We’re drowning in Ponies over here–new ones and duplicates! I think we have three Pursey Pinks, for crying out loud!

Abigail and The Snowman #4 (BOOM!): My daughter’s dug it plenty–even if the Snowman is more Bumble than Olaf.

Frankenstein Underground #1 (Dark Horse): Anything with Mignola’s name tied to it screams… Well, yeah: it screams. Been around the catacomb a time or two with Frankenstein’s monster, haven’t we?

Mind MGMT #31 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand #30 was easily our #1 book of January. Damn thing erased everything and rewrote it even more painfully. There’s something Stray Bullets-ish about Kindt’s attention to detail across the series, in the impact of each issue; in this case, however, every round is a shot to the head.

Mind MGMT #31

Superman #39 (DC): Geoff Johns’ Superman sounds like Superman, and I’m a super happy man as a result. Who cares if the storyline didn’t develop as well as it could’ve and if Romita and Janson’s artwork appeared faster than a speeding bullet and about as powerful as Mister Roger’s Neighborhood Trolley.

Alex + Ada #13 (Image): I&N Demand This book is a whisper–the breath of a lover that fills your ear and sets off a silent storm that races up your spine, steels your muscles, and makes your skin scream. Yeah, that’s exactly what it is.

The Manhattan Projects: The Sun Beyond the Stars #1 (Image): Hoping that the new format is the key to recapturing the science behind this once superior series.

Outcast #7 (Image): Pretty close to exorcizing this one from the list, as well. Despite some interesting moments, I haven’t developed a connection to Kyle–at least one that has me caring enough to carry on with this very wayward son.

Satellite Sam #12 (Image): I&N Demand The best TV show in comics. Each episode/issue is a sprawling mosaic of self-interest that reads–unlikely–like a long-story-short told round the water cooler. Love it.

Satellite Sam #12

Secret Identities #2 (Image): I was kind of hung up on the untransitions from one character’s secret story to the next. It was a odd choice for a first issue–unless, of course, it was done to emphasize the separate personal spheres, which are such an integral part of the story. Hmm. The twist at the end: ho-hum. Had me thinking Deathmatch in spots. Maybe that’s why I’m on to #2.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #2 (Image): I&N Demand Spanish Scott is a galleon of gold, and #1 let him shine: his pistolet-à-tête-à-pistolet with Beth and Kretch ranks as one of my favorite panels of the year.

Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #2

Zero #15 (Image): I&N Demand #14 could’ve easily ended the series, right? Can’t not speak of the protracted fight scene, which had its moments–including an stare down that jumped off of the page; otherwise, it seemed unnecessary, almost lazy storytelling-wise, which contradicts most of what Kot’s done since #9, our top book of July 2014. It’s been a remarkable run, one that was due a hiccup.

Zero #15

Magneto #16 (Marvel): Magneto’s a badass. And that’s all ye need to know. Wondering what “Secret Wars” is going to do to the mighty Magneto.

Moon Knight #13 (Marvel): Wood and Smallwood’s run–which rounded out 2014 on a high note–stumbled across the finish line with an inexplicably weak resolution to an otherwise compelling story. Now Bunn takes over–with artist Ron Ackins–with expectations unexpectedly lower. Lucky Bunn.

Burning Fields #2 (BOOM!): I thought #1 was pretty solid. I mentioned that it was like Homeland and The Killing. #2 had me thinking The Bridge. Also kind of lost me a bit. I considered just letting it go, but still I buy.

Cap Stone #4 (Titan): Has been OK through three issues. Certainly hasn’t lived up to the promise of the poetic and beautiful–and near miraculous–first issue. Had Moore in mind; ended up Less. Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate Sharp’s vision. Page to page, the narrative’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. At times, however, the disjointedness causes the narrative to stall.

Divinity #2 (Valiant): I liked #1. I’m a big Kindt fan, but I’ve struggled to find a series outside of Mind MGMT that works for me. Sure, I’ve enjoyed The Valiant, but he’s sharing writing duties with Jeff Lemire on that one. While not mind-blowing by any stretch of the imagination, #1 hit some Kindt-ian notes that rang true, that carried consistently through the issue, leaving me far more satisfied than I was after reading Rai and Ninjak. I certainly hope that #2 transcends to the divine.

Oh, wow, OK. I was expecting you to say something else. You know, with Kindt and Kot and Slott and whatnot.

Hmm? I said thaw. Right? Thaw. Especially after all of the ice and snow.

Yeah, no, I know. Frost giants are bad-ass. But whoever the hell it is under that helmet is all business. Girl power, baby!

Thaw. Not Thor. Thaw.

That is the question, isn’t it?

No, it isn’t. You’re just not getting it, are you?

Are you kidding me? Of course, I am! I mean, Aaron’s hammering home a relevant point about gender, about identity–it’s almost Shakespearean if you think about it!

Just did. And, no, it isn’t.

I’m so confused right now. Doesn’t really sound like you’re really all that interested in Thor. I mean–I don’t know.

Third base.

Astro City #21 (DC/Vertigo): This Quarrel-centric arc’s been a drag. Wondering if Astro City‘s suffering from Busiek’s attention to his excellent–and anthropomorphically-fresh–The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw.

East of West #18 (Image) I&N Demand I always look forward to getting lost in Hickman’s fatal vision, particularly now with the increasingly-intriguing boy with the A.I. balloon. Alas, Babylon: I wish you well on your journey!

Sidekick #10 (Image): I’ve liked Sidekick a lot. Hard to imagine I almost quit after the first one! Oh, and then there was the time I accused J.M.S. of plagiarizing–his own material, for goodness sake! (In an odd twist, Straczynski employed a plot device in The Twilight Zone [our #10 book of 2014, by the way] that just so happened to be an integral part of fellow shelf-sitter Sidekick.) All blood under the bridge. Can’t wait to see how this wraps up.

The Surface #1 (Image) Just I&N Ales Kot–love him (Change, Zero) or hate him (Suicide Squad, Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier)–demands attention with his off-beat, oft-rhythmic writing style. He definitely does “mind-bending” well, so I’m definitely down with discovering what lies beneath The Surface.

The Surface #1

Ant-Man #3 (Marvel) I&N Demand Never in my life–or at least in the last couple of months–did I expect to find myself excited about Ant-Man. Ant-Man for God’s sake! It’s mostly promotional material, isn’t it? And what about Secret Wars? I mean, is this series gonna get stepped on after #5? But Spencer’s having a good time and it shows! (See Darth Vader and Princess Leia for very much the opposite feeling.) And, then, of course, there’s the promise of the Taskmaster, one of my all-time faves.

Ant-Man #3

Silver Surfer #10 (Marvel) I&N Demand Any regular reader–or occasional clicker–worth his power cosmic knows that we love Slott and Allred’s Silver Surfer, our #4 book of 2014. What you don’t know–no matter your status–is that #8 was a Top 5 Pick of January and #9 was a Top Five Pick of February. (Yeah, no links. Sorry: we’re kind of behind. It happens. A lot.) It’s been the perfect balance of humor and huge moments–none huger than the coming of Galactus.

Silver Surfer #10

Star Wars #3 (Marvel): Of the three newly relaunched Star Wars books, this one’s the only one that seems to care. How much do I care? Not as much as I had hoped. We’ll see if this one helps.

Thor #6 (Marvel): OK, so I’m intrigued. Sure, there have been some terrible moments (#5, for example: What is that nonsense between Thor and Titiana? Is it The Sisterhood of the Traveling Spandex?); but they’ve been generally tempered by the well-developed mystery and the emergence of the Odinson as a superior supporting character.

The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood #5 (Dynamite): A decent Twilight Zone-ish story with some literary notes comes to close.

Ninjak #1 (Valiant) I&N Demand Matt Kindt’s proving that Valiant picked the right guy to power up their universe–especially with his latest wave of books (The Valiant, Divinity) Ninjak promises to be further proof.

Ninjak #1

Rachel Rising #32 (Abstract Studio): I had this book written off for dead after #29. #30 found Terry Moore resurrecting everything that made Rachel rise above the rest–and into our Top Ten Books of 2013. Pretty glad I kept it on my pull list. Thing is, I know that Moore can slip to less–and that knowledge is going to linger, maybe even spoil. Rats.

The Sixth Gun: Dust to Dust #1 (Oni): If it’s The Sixth Gun, it’s going to find its way into my bag.

War Stories #6 (Avatar): Garth Ennis and Tomas Aria are telling the harrowing story of the Children of Israel, and I’m on the edge of my seat to find out how it ends.